Assessment of management of direct seeded rice production under different water conditions in Cambodia

In order to assess direct seeding of rice technology to cope with future agricultural labor shortage in Cambodia, agronomic experiments were conducted in 2005 and 2006 to compare direct seeding with transplanting under three water conditions (non-flooded, shallow flooded, and deep flooded conditions) with/without weed control by herbicides (bentazone and cyhalofop-butyl) for two Cambodian rice varieties (shorter stature and early maturity Sen Pidao, taller stature and longer maturity Phka Rumduol). Average rice yield in 2 years was lower in direct seeding (341 g m⁻²) than transplanting (404 g m⁻²), but interaction components with year, varieties, water conditions, and weed management were significant, and the attained maximum yield of direct seeding (510 and 464 g m⁻² for Phka Rumduol variety in shallow flooded condition with weeding in 2005 and 2006, respectively) was similar to that of transplanting. Plant length and dry weight of rice were reduced in non-flooded and deep flooded conditions compared with shallow flooded condition, and grain yield was the highest in shallow flooded condition. Yield advantage of Phka Rumduol over Sen Pidao increased under direct seeding, particularly under non-flooded conditions in 2005 because weed infestation was more suppressed in Phka Rumduol even without weeding. Increase in 100 g m⁻² of weed infestation prior to heading (dry weight basis) reduced about 20% of attainable yield with weed control. This study identified importance of stature and growth duration of rice varieties and presence of standing water as well as the weed control, in order to develop and extend direct seeding in the Cambodia.     

Life-history traits of eight <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lethrinus</Emphasis> species from two local populations in waters off the Ryukyu Islands

The number of growth rings was counted on broken and burnt otoliths of eight Lethrinus spp. from two local populations: Lethrinus atkinsoni, L. harak, L. miniatus, L. nebulosus, L. obsoletus, L. ornatus, L. ravus, and L. rubrioperculatus, collected from 1985 to 1996 in waters off the Ryukyu Islands. Growth rings were revealed to be formed annually from about October to June by marginal analysis. In addition to obtaining the three parameters in von Bertalanffy growth equation and the maximum age in specimens, the relationship between age and both ovarian maturity rate and sex ratio (percentage female) was analyzed. The age at 50% of ovarian maturity was the lowest at 1–2 years old in L. harak, L. ravus, and L. rubrioperculatus and was the highest at approximately 4 years old in L. nebulosus. The age at which the sex ratio decreased to 50% due to sexual transition from female in protogynous hermaphrodite species was the lowest at 3–4 years old in the L. atkinsoni Okinawa population and was the highest at 7–8 years old in L. miniatus. The oldest maximum age for specimens was 26 years in L. nebulosus and the youngest maximum age was 12 years in L. ornatus.     

Immunohistochemical observations of vitellin synthesis and accumulation processes in ovary of Ezo abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis discus hannai</Emphasis>

Ovarian follicle cells are the site of yolk protein synthesis in the Ezo abalone Haliotis discus hannai. In this study, histological observations of ovarian follicle cells were conducted in H. discus hannai by immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization methods focusing on their function of yolk protein synthesis. An antibody raised against purified yolk protein (vitellin, Vn) recognized yolk granules in oocytes, and ovarian follicle cells adjacent to the oocytes under yolk accumulation were stained positively with both anti-Vn antibody and an antisense probe for vitellogenin (the precursor for vitellin, Vtg) mRNA. These results indicate that the abalone Vtg gene is transcribed and translated in the ovarian follicle cells. In oocytes in the early phase of yolk accumulation, positive reactions with the antibody appeared first in the stalk part, and the follicle cells adjacent to the stalk were also stained positively. These observations imply local transport of yolk protein from the follicle cells to the oocyte through an extracellular space around the oocyte stalk. Ovarian follicle cells changed their morphological characteristics and reactivity to the antibody in close relation to the stages of the adjacent oocyte, which suggests the presence of functional interactions between follicle cells and oocytes in the course of yolk protein synthesis and accumulation.     

Immunoreactive changes in pituitary FSH and LH cells during seasonal reproductive and spawning cycles of female chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis>

The physiological functions of pituitary gonadotropins (GtHs) are well established in higher vertebrates, whereas those in teleosts are still poorly understood. To describe the role of GtHs during gonadal development of female chub mackerel Scomber japonicus, changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) cells were investigated immunohistochemically during the seasonal reproductive and spawning cycles. FSH and LH cells were identified in the different cell types of the proximal pars distalis (PPD); FSH cells were located in the central PPD, whereas LH cells were localized along the border of the pars intermedia. To examine changes in FSH and LH cells, the percentage of FSH or LH cell-occupying area in the PPD was evaluated and represented as FSHβ-immunoreactive (ir) or LHβ-ir levels, respectively. FSHβ-ir levels increased significantly from immature to the completion of vitellogenesis, whereas LHβ-ir levels were maintained at high levels from early vitellogenesis to post-spawning. During the spawning cycle, which consisted of four stages from just after spawning to the next oocyte maturation, both FSHβ-ir and LHβ-ir levels showed no significant changes among different stages; however, LHβ-ir levels remained relatively high, and FSHβ-ir levels were constantly low. These results suggest that both FSH and LH may be involved in vitellogenesis and LH may act at final oocyte maturation in female chub mackerel, although the role of FSH during the spawning cycle is still unclear.     

Review of population dynamics and management of small pelagic fishes around the Japanese Archipelago

Fisheries Science - Population dynamics of small pelagic fishes (SPF) and their management in Japan were reviewed for Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus, Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus,...     

Plasma vitellogenin levels in male common carp Cyprinus carpio and crucian carp Carassius cuvieri of Lake Kasumigaura

In order to investigate the possible influence of estrogenic environmental endocrine disruptors on the reproductive activity of fish in Lake Kasumigaura, plasma levels of vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker of estrogen exposure, were measured in wild and cultured male common carp Cyprinus carpio and wild crucian carp Carassius cuvieri . Testicular histology and plasma steroid hormone levels were also examined. Fish were collected from June 1998 to August 1999. Plasma VTG levels in most fish examined were below a detection limit (40 ng/mL) throughout the sampling period, and a small amount of VTG (43.5 ng/mL–1680 ng/mL) compared to that in females was detected in some fish. Active spermatogenesis in the testis and increased levels of plasma sex steroids were observed in most of the fish examined. Thus, no marked influence of estrogenic chemicals was detected in the reproductive activity of male common carp and crucian carp in Lake Kasumigaura collected from the sampling sites in the present investigation.     

Estimation of the proportions of offspring having soft fruit and juicy fruit as evaluated by sensory tests in Japanese persimmon

Firmness and juiciness are important fruit attributes targeted in the breeding of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.). To facilitate the efficient production of cultivars with soft and juicy fruit, we successfully used the mid-parental values (MP) of sensory evaluations as independent variables in logistic regression models to estimate the proportions of offspring from a given cross that would have soft fruit and juicy fruit. The best model for estimating firmness contained only the MP for firmness (MPf) as an explanatory variable, whereas the best model for juiciness contained both the MP for juiciness (MPj) and the MPf as explanatory variables. The regression lines from these models suggested that crosses with a low MPf and high MPj can increase the proportion of offspring that have soft fruit and juicy fruit, respectively. However, the slopes of the regression lines for both firmness and juiciness were gentle, indicating that genetic segregation in offspring is wide for both attributes. We infer from these data that softer and juicier fruit can be bred from parents having only moderate ratings for these traits.     

The specific antibody to Brachyspira aalborgi in serum obtained from a patient with intestinal spirochetosis

Serum obtained from a patient histopathologically diagnosed as intestinal spirochetosis was investigated serodiagnostically by agglutination test. B. aalborgi which is a human intestinal spirochete reacted strongly with the human serum, while B. pilosicoli which has potential pathogenicity to humans reacted with the serum, but as strongly and its titer was different than the other three species. On the other hand, intestinal spirochetes (Matsumoto isolates) were isolated from the biopsy samples of the patient. The morphological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of the isolates were very similar to those of B. aalborgi. Furthermore, the protein profiles of the Matsumoto isolates were also similar to those of B. aalborgi but were different than those of B. pilosicoli and B. hyodysenteriae. The reaction profiles of the Matsumoto isolates in immunoblotting were relatively similar to those of B. aalborgi except for a 74 kDa band but were different from those of B. pilosicoli and B. hyodysenteriae. Therefore, we identified the Matsumoto isolates as B. aalborgi and diagnosed the patient with a B. aalborgi infection.     

Orally administered crocetin and crocins are absorbed into blood plasma as crocetin and its glucuronide conjugates in mice

A series of crocetin glycosides (crocins) are the main pigment of the stigmas of saffron (Crocussativus L.) and the fruits of gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis). Although numerous studies have demonstrated that crocetin and crocins have a variety of biological functions, the metabolism of dietary crocetin and crocins remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the intestinal absorption of orally administered crocetin and crocins in mice. Orally administered crocetin was rapidly absorbed into the blood circulation and was present in plasma as an intact free form and as glucuronide conjugates (crocetin-monoglucuronide and -diglucuronide). Crocetin and its glucuronide conjugates were also found in crocins-administered mouse plasma, whereas intact crocins (glycoside forms) were not detected. These results indicate that orally administered crocins are hydrolyzed to crocetin before or during intestinal absorption, and absorbed crocetin is partly metabolized to mono- and diglucuronide conjugates.